Episode 202: Sentinels of the Seas

Bottlenose dolphins are a beloved Florida icon. But recent studies show disturbing signs of immune system dysfunction and disease plaguing this charismatic mammal. These problems might be linked to legacy contaminants and other pollutants which bio-accumulate up the ocean food chain. For decades, toxic chemicals have made their way into the oceans, leaving fish and marine mammals vulnerable.

As sentinels of ecosystem health, dolphins potentially hold clues to environmental hazards that could impact humans. Changing Seas visits the world’s longest running dolphin research program and other marine mammal centers for a better understanding of the silent threats lurking beneath the waves.

Experts

Meet the experts featured in this episode.

Episode Photos

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Experts from Harbor Branch’s Marine Mammal Research and Conservation Program collecting dolphin data for their photo ID database.

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Videographer Jeremy Nicholson filming Greg Bossart, Ph.D. as he is checking on the health of one of the resident dolphins at Marineland, Florida.

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Producer Alexa Elliott and Videographer Allan Farrell filming dolphins in Sarasota Bay, on Florida’s west coast.

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Videographer Jeremy Nicholson filming scientists with NOAA’s dolphin research program in Miami, Florida.

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Bottlenose dolphins near St. Augustine, Florida.

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Videographer Jeremy Nicholson filming experts from Harbor Branch’s Marine Mammal Research and Conservation Program.

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A scientist from the Dolphin Conservation Field Station taking pictures of wild dolphins in St. Augustine, Florida.

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A bottlenose dolphin.

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Producer Alexa Elliott interviewing Hardy Jones.

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Experts from Harbor Branch’s Marine Mammal Research and Conservation Program collecting dolphin data for their photo ID database.

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Greg Bossart, Ph.D. checking on the health of one of the resident dolphins at Marineland, Florida.

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Greg Bossart, Ph.D. checking on the dental health of one of the resident dolphins at Marineland, Florida.

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Videographer Jeremy Nicholson filming Hardy Jones on St. Augustine Beach in Florida.

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A scientist with Mote Marine Laboratory’s Sarasota Dolphin Research Program collecting data on a wild dolphin in Sarasota Bay.

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Videographer Jeremy Nicholson filming Harbor Branch's Steve McCulloch who is collecting dolphin data for the photo ID database.

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Experts from Harbor Branch's Marine Mammal Research and Conservation Program collecting dolphin data for their I.D. database.

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Scientists from Harbor Branch Oceanopgraphic Institute study bottlenose dolphins in the Indian River Lagoon near Ft. Pierce, Florida.

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Changing Seas Videographer Jeremy Nicholson jokes with experts from Harbor Branch's Marine Mammal Research and Conservation Program.

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A bottlenose dolphin.

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Greg Bossart, Ph.D. checking on the health of one of the resident dolphins at Marineland, Florida.

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Changing Seas team members Kandra Velez and Jeremy Nicholson at Marineland, Florida.

Special Thanks:

Holiday Inn
860 A1A Beach Blvd
St. Augustine Beach, FL 32080
(904) 471-2555

Quality Inn & Suites
4800 N. Tamiami Trail
Sarasota, FL, US, 34234
(941) 355-7091

Hutchinson Island Plaza Hotel & Suites
1230 Seaway Dr.
Hutchinson Island
Fort Pierce, Florida 34949
(772) 595-0711

Image Credits

Changing Seas would like to thank the following individuals and institutions who kindly allowed their footage, images and other media to be used in this production:

Brian Cousin
Stephen McCulloch
Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute at Florida Atlantic University

Chad Stouffer
Marineland

Gregory Bossart
Georgia Aquarium

Hardy Jones
BlueVoice.org

Janice Haney Carr
Jim Biddle
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Escherichia, Shigella,
Vibrio Reference Unit
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Mote Marine Laboratory

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NOAA Fisheries/SEUS Marine Mammal Stranding Network

NOAA Marine Debris Program

State Archives of Florida
Florida Photographic Collection

All wild dolphin footage and images were collected under the following NMFS scientific research permits:
permit # 998-1678-00 (Greg Bossart)
permit # 522-1785 (Randall Wells)
permit #779-1633-01 (NOAA SEFSC)

Web Extras

Get a Close-up Look inside a Marine Mammal Transport Vehicle

Funding for this episode of Changing Seas was provided by:

Episode 202: Sentinels of the Seas

Experts

Randall S. Wells, Ph.D.

Gregory Bossart, V.M.D., Ph.D.

Hardy Jones

Juli Goldstein, D.V.M.

Steve McCulloch

Jenny Litz, Ph.D.

Adam Schaefer, M.P.H.

Special Thanks:

Image Credits

Web Extras

Get a Close-up Look inside a Marine Mammal Transport Vehicle

Funding for this episode of Changing Seas was provided by: